The accident happened near where Highway 1 intersects Struve Road, and caused the southbound lane of Highway 1 to be partially blocked.

California Highway Patrol officers said the truck driver was attempting to pull out from a Valero gas station and turn left onto Highway 1 when he hit the riders. The 35-year-old man did not have a driver's license and was cited by the CHP.

"It’s about following the rules of the road, and this case, the driver was not licensed and probably not aware of the rules," CHP Officer Phillip Howard said. Howard said the driver should have yielded to all traffic.

Ambulances transported the injured bicyclists to a Watsonville hospital to be treated for minor and moderate injuries. One woman suffered severe facial injuries, and the other three had moderate abrasions and bruises.

CHP officers alerted race organizers about the accident and the 7-day ride continued.

More than 2,300 cyclists were on Highway 1 Monday pedaling from Santa Cruz to Gonzales.

The AIDS/Life Cycle Bicycle Ride will move through Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties this week in the following locations:

On Monday, the cyclists left Santa Cruz on Highway 1, went through Moss Landing, reached Highway 101, and finished in Gonzales.

On Tuesday, the riders will proceed along Highway 101 near Jolon toward the Paso Robles Fairgrounds in San Luis Obispo County.

On Wednesday, the riders will leave Paso Robles along Highway 46 West to Highway 1 south towards Pismo Beach before stopping at Preisker Park in Santa Maria.

On Thursday, the riders will leave Santa Maria on State Route 135 to Highway 1 near Orcutt before stopping at River Park in Lompoc.

On Friday, the riders will leave Lompoc and use Hwy. 246 and U.S. Highway 101 in Santa Barbara County before stopping at Bates Road in Ventura County.

The ride through California "delivers a life-changing experience for thousands of participants from all backgrounds and fitness levels united by a common desire to do something heroic," the event's website wrote.

PHOTOS: Major crashes on the Central Coast

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Tim Cattera Photography

big rig crash

This big-rig truck crashed on the Highway 1-Highway 17 fishhook in Santa Cruz Monday night. Witnesses told CHP officers that the truck was traveling southbound when it "flew over the fishhook" bridge and landed on the northbound lanes.